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Job Introduction

The finance team at Milton Keynes City Council takes an active lead across the council as colleagues and partners deliver essential and best-value services to our growing city.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and inquisitive person to join us as a Service Accountant in our Children and Families Services team, predominately supporting the Education, Learning and Inclusion Service including Schools. This vital part of the city council includes the Dedicated Schools Grant of £334m as well as a close focus on the High Needs Block of £60m.

You will ensure robust monitoring of the financial position and development of the budget across the medium term as well as developing and challenging business cases. You will be able to challenge our ways of working to ensure good governance and value for money.

In return you’ll join a dynamic, energised finance team and receive flexible working arrangements including working from home and an excellent range of in-house training and development opportunities.

We are AAT employer accredited and several colleagues are studying for professional qualifications. We offer career progression with the opportunity to progress to a more senior role on completion of professional qualification and experience gained.

Role Responsibilities

The Service Accountant will have responsibility for the following areas:

• Budget monitoring and reporting of the general fund and DSG
• Supporting maintained, special and nursery schools which have a deficit budget plan to develop a costed action plan including timescales.
• Medium Term Financial Plan (including ensuring proposals and business cases are robust)
• Year-end closure of accounts, including liaison with auditors
• Completion of government / statutory returns
• Support on key projects and provide advice to Senior Managers

In addition, the postholder will also:

• Need experience of supervising and developing staff within the team
• Work closely with other members of the wider Finance Team to help shape the Finance functions and processes

Ideal Candidate

• Part qualified accountant (CCAB) with up to date with relevant CPD
• Comprehensive skills in all Microsoft Applications
• Be able to build strong relationships with external stakeholders (head teachers, schools and other LAs) in order to provide good professional advice
• Experience of financial planning, control, and reporting
• Ability to explain complicated and technical information in a manner that can be understood by others
• Deliver solutions to complex challenges within Children’s Services and Education

About The Company

Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.

Milton Keynes City Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.

Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.

Package Description

We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes City Council, including:-

• Local Government Pension Scheme, excellent pension scheme widely regarded as one of the best available.
• 28 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 32 days after 5 years.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme.
• Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Health Cashplan.
• MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
• Blue Light Card - Employees working within Social Care can qualify for a range of discounts from national retailers to local businesses in a wide range of categories including holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones and much more!
• SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
• Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles).
• Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs).
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements.
• Childcare Subsidy.